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Concrete Mantel A Crown-Mold A stock crown profile and quarter-round form the mold for an inexpensive and unique fireplace surround BY CHARLES MILLER I had three goals in mind when I started designing our living room’s fireplace surround. First, it had to reflect the other trim details in the room; second, it had to be affordable; and third, it had to be unmistakably fireproof. Concrete seemed like the clear choice, giving me a good excuse to put together a small-scale concrete pour. I really like this kind of low-anxiety concrete project. It’s devoid of the handwringing scenarios that often accompany a visit by the transit-mix truck, and you can’t beat the price tag. The mantel and both pilasters cost less than $30 in materials. Fastening the surround to the wall I used long screws to secure both the mantel and the pilasters to the wall framing. As shown in the section drawing (facing page), the mantel hangs from the chimney-shaped framing by way of two 6-in. TimberLok screws. The pilasters are screwed to blocking in the walls. The screw heads are concealed by spraypainted wooden caps that look like carriage-bolt heads. Although the pilasters appear to be supporting the mantel, there is actually a 1⁄16-in. gap between them. 54 FINE HOMEBUILDING Drawings: Dan Thornton